Quintiq sets new standard for resource planning in railway business
Advanced Planning, APS, FCS, S&OP
Among the most popular software planning technologies is Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS). This is a type of software solution that sets out to ensure production capacity and the materials required for manufacture are optimally sourced and allocated to satisfy demand. Other related tools include Finite Capacity Scheduling. This approach sets out to understanding how much production capacity is possible within a specified timeframe. The aim is to manage workflow at an even and efficient pace throughout the production process. Finite scheduling tools differ from infinite capacity scheduling tools in that the latter are in the main more simple and unable to account for system issues/constraints that happen in real time.
Preactor to Partner with SYSPRO to Extend the SYSPRO ERP Scheduling Solution
Nov 02, 2006
Preactor announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement that enables SYSPROs ERP product to integrate with Preactor software.
SOL Group signs pan-European contract with Quintiq for Quintiq Logistics Planner
Oct 24, 2006
The Italian SOL Group has signed a contract with software supplier Quintiq for the delivery and implementation of the Quintiq Logistics Planner, a state-of-the-art planning platform for the support of a variety of logistics activities.
Aim for a hit with your new release
Oct 20, 2006
From time to time, producer brands will launch new product lines to complement or replace their existing offerings.
Rautaruukki Oyj implement Metal Scheduler Industry Solution from Quintiq
Oct 05, 2006
Rautaruukki Oyj, best known as Ruukki, is a leading supplier of metal-based components, systems and integrated systems to the construction and mechanical engineering industries. The company has a wide portfolio of metal products and services with operations in 23 countries and 12,000 employees. Net sales in 2005 totaled 3,7 billion.
ILOG UNVEILS INDUSTRY'S FIRST SYSTEM FOR DEVELOPING CUSTOM OPTIMISATION-BASED PLANNING AND SCHEDULING APPLICATIONS
Oct 03, 2006
Solution Brings Together Optimisation Technology With Modeling and Application Development Tools
Quintiq enables e-Logistics Control to deliver 4PL activities
Sep 28, 2006
Founded in 1905, Ewals Cargo Care has a long history as a third-party logistics provider. ECC now has a turnover of 330m with operations in 14 countries, over 1,500 employees and 45 separate sites. With its multi-modal capability..........
Research by Preactor exposes extent of Advanced Planning and Scheduling myths
Sep 14, 2006
Preactor International, the UKs leading specialist advanced planning and scheduling software company, announces the results of a comprehensive research project into the widespread extent of APS myths.
CDC Software Delivers Newest Version of Ross OnePlan for On-Demand Planning and Factory Scheduling
Sep 12, 2006
Software as a Service (SaaS) Solution Provides Customers with Increased Ease-of-Use and Improved Manufacturing Performance Management
Metal solution provider and steel manufacturer Ruukki expands the deployment of Quintiq throughout Europe
May 31, 2006
Corporate agreement to use Quintiq in Ruukki
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS).
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) refers to a manufacturing management process by which raw materials and production capacity are optimally allocated to meet demand. In manufacturing, the purpose of scheduling is to minimize the production time and costs by improving the efficiency of the operation. Scheduling is an important tool for manufacturing as it can have a major impact on the productivity of a process.
APS is especially well-suited to environments where simpler planning methods cannot adequately address complex trade-offs between competing priorities. Traditional planning and scheduling systems utilise a stepwise procedure to allocate material and production capacity. This approach is simple but cumbersome, and does not readily adapt to changes in demand, resource capacity or material availability. Materials and capacity are planned separately, and many systems do not consider limited material availability or capacity constraints. Thus, this approach often results in plans that cannot be executed. Production scheduling tools greatly outperform older manual scheduling methods.
These provide the production scheduler with powerful graphical interfaces which can be used to visually optimize real-time work-loads in various stages of production, and pattern recognition allows the software to automatically create scheduling opportunities which might not be apparent without this view into the data. Companies use backward and forward scheduling to allocate plant and machinery resources, plan human resources, plan production processes and purchase materials. Forward scheduling is planning the tasks from the date resources become available to determine the shipping date or the due date.
Backward scheduling is planning the tasks from the due date or required-by date to determine the start date and/or any changes in capacity required. Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) provides an updated forecast that leads to a sales plan, production plan, inventory plan, customer lead time (backlog) plan, new product development plan, strategic initiative plan and resulting financial plan. Variations in frequency of the plan depend on the type of manufacturing industry. Short product life cycles and high demand volatility require a tighter S&OP planning than steadily consumed products.
A properly implemented S&OP process routinely reviews customer demand and supply resources and “re-plans” quantitatively across an agreed rolling horizon. The re-planning process focuses on changes from the previously agreed sales and operations plan. While it helps the management team to understand how the company achieved its current level of performance, its primary focus is on future actions and anticipated results.
